Nitrofurantoin is not indicated for the treatment of pyelonephritis or perinephric abscesses.

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of nitrofurantoin monohydrate/macrocrystals capsules and other antibacterial drugs, nitrofurantoin monohydrate/macrocrystals capsules should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy.

Nitrofurantoins lack the broader tissue distribution of other therapeutic agents approved for urinary tract infections. Consequently, many patients who are treated with nitrofurantoin monohydrate/macrocrystals capsules are predisposed to persistence or reappearance of bacteriuria. (See CLINICAL STUDIES). Urine specimens for culture and susceptibility testing should be obtained before and after completion of therapy. If persistence or reappearance of bacteriuria occurs after treatment with nitrofurantoin monohydrate/macrocrystals Capsules, other therapeutic agents with broader tissue distribution should be selected. In considering the use of nitrofurantoin monohydrate/macrocrystals capsules, lower eradication rates should be balanced against the increased potential for systemic toxicity and for the development of antimicrobial resistance when agents with broader tissue distribution are utilized.

Short-course nitrofurantoin for the treatment of acute uncomplicated cystitis in women. [2007.11.12]BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of data on the efficacy of nitrofurantoin for the treatment of acute uncomplicated cystitis in regimens shorter than 7 days. Evidence-based use of this drug is increasingly important as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole resistance among uropathogens increases... CONCLUSION: A 5-day course of nitrofurantoin is equivalent clinically and microbiologically to a 3-day course of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and should be considered an effective fluoroquinolone-sparing alternative for the treatment of acute cystitis in women.

Clinical Trials Related to Nitrofurantoin

Study Comparing Nitrofurantoin to Fosfomycin for Acute Urinary Tract Infection in Women [Recruiting]
Developed before the establishment of a structured process for drug assessment,
nitrofurantoin is now being prescribed frequently given the rise in multi-resistant
gram-negative pathogens. Doubts remain regarding fosfomycin's long-term clinical
effectiveness. A randomized, controlled trial is needed to explore the clinical
effectiveness and better define the side effect profiles of both nitrofurantoin and
fosfomycin. This multi-center open trial will randomize 600 non-pregnant women at three
international sites (200 each in Poland, Switzerland, and Israel) at increased risk for
carriage of resistant uropathogens and with suspicion of uncomplicated lower urinary tract
infection to receive either oral nitrofurantoin 100 mg three times daily for 5 days or a
single 3g dose of oral fosfomycin. Patients will be followed for clinical and bacteriologic
response at days 14 and 28 post therapy completion. The study hypothesis holds that
nitrofurantoin will be superior to fosfomycin in clinical efficacy at final follow-up.

Short Course Nitrofurantoin for Acute Cystitis [Completed]
The purpose of this research study is to determine what the cure rates are with a 5 day
course of nitrofurantoin versus the more standard 3 day course of
trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazone. The study will improve our knowledge of which antibiotic and
what length of therapy is best for treatment of UTI, taking into account the problem of
antibiotic resistance.
Procedures subjects will undergo once they have read and signed the consent are:
Questions about their medical and sexual history and current symptoms of UTI. They will be
asked to provide a urine sample and then randomly assigned to one of the two treatment
groups.
will be obtained at each visit. If they were assigned to the nitrofurantoin treatment
regimen, they will also be asked to collect a urine sample at home on the third day. If the
subject develops recurrent urinary symptoms or does not have resolution of symptoms after
completing the initial treatment course, they will be asked to return to the clinic and
provide another urine sample for analysis. They will then be treated with another standard
antibiotic at no cost to them and will be withdrawn from the study at that time.
The study population is women ages 18-45 with acute symptoms of a UTI without a history of
UTI in the past 6 weeks.

Nitrofurantoin and Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) [Recruiting]
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common complication after surgery for prolapse or
urinary incontinence. UTIs are painful and have the potential to turn into kidney
infections. We are asking women who self-catheterize after surgery to try either an
antibiotic or a placebo pill so we can see if we can prevent UTIs without causing side
effects.
This study will not require any additional visits or blood draws. You will be asked to
answer some questions, keep a brief diary of your experience, and immediately report any
symptoms of a UTI to your doctor.

PATIENT REVIEWS / RATINGS / COMMENTS

Based on a total of 3 ratings/reviews, Nitrofurantoin has an overall score of 6.67. The effectiveness score is 8 and the side effect score is 6.67. The scores are on ten point scale: 10 - best, 1 - worst.

Nitrofurantoin review by 29 year old female patient

Rating

Overall rating:

Effectiveness:

Highly Effective

Side effects:

No Side Effects

Treatment Info

Condition / reason:

UTI prevention

Dosage & duration:

100 mg taken twice per day for the period of 3 months

Other conditions:

hay fever, psioriasis, eczema, allopecia areata

Other drugs taken:

none

Reported Results

Benefits:

This preventative course stopped the chronic UTIs that the patient had experienced.

Side effects:

On a few occasions, mild nausea immediately after taking the drug.

Comments:

Twice daily, and then stepped down to once daily after a new doctor recommended that the patient only use one per day for prevention, due to slim size (110 pounds).

Nitrofurantoin review by 58 year old female patient

Rating

Overall rating:

Effectiveness:

Considerably Effective

Side effects:

Severe Side Effects

Treatment Info

Condition / reason:

UTI

Dosage & duration:

100 mg taken b.i.d. for the period of 5 days

Other conditions:

none

Other drugs taken:

none

Reported Results

Benefits:

Treated a UTI bactrim did not

Side effects:

End of 3rd day: extreme dizziness, with sense of room spinning wildly; deep-seated nausea but no vomiting; 4th day more serious than 3rd; uncertain if finishing the course (to the 5th day) is wise, or even possible, with full time work

Comments:

Treatment includes the option to get a refill: would seek alternative to Cipro, which was very harsh on gastro-intestinal system, Bactrim, which apparently was not effective in treating an ongoing problem...and this, which is causing some big problems

Nitrofurantoin review by 58 year old female patient

Rating

Overall rating:

Effectiveness:

Considerably Effective

Side effects:

Severe Side Effects

Treatment Info

Condition / reason:

UTI

Dosage & duration:

100 mg taken b.i.d. for the period of 5 days

Other conditions:

none

Other drugs taken:

none

Reported Results

Benefits:

Treated a UTI bactrim did not

Side effects:

End of 3rd day: extreme dizziness, with sense of room spinning wildly; deep-seated nausea but no vomiting; 4th day more serious than 3rd; uncertain if finishing the course (to the 5th day) is wise, or even possible, with full time work

Comments:

Treatment includes the option to get a refill: would seek alternative to Cipro, which was very harsh on gastro-intestinal system, Bactrim, which apparently was not effective in treating an ongoing problem...and this, which is causing some big problems